Jon Wakefield, Consultant at Via Resource and Lisa Ventura MBE, Founder of Cyber Security Unity discuss various topics related to neurodiversity and imposter syndrome. Here's a summary of the key points from the conversation:

·       Imposter Syndrome Awareness: Lisa discusses the creation of International Imposter Syndrome Awareness Day, a day dedicated to discussing and addressing imposter syndrome. She emphasises the importance of raising awareness and encouraging open conversations about how imposter syndrome affects individuals in their careers.

·       Imposter Syndrome and Neurodiversity: The conversation delves into how imposter syndrome is often more pronounced in neurodivergent individuals, such as those with ADHD or autism. Lisa shares her personal experiences with imposter syndrome, dating back to her school days, and how it has affected her throughout her career.

·       ADHD Diagnosis: Lisa discusses her ADHD diagnosis and how it has provided her with a better understanding of her neurodivergent traits. She mentions her experiences with borderline personality disorder traits and the therapeutic techniques that have helped her manage them.

·       Handling Imposter Syndrome: The conversation explores how neurodivergent individuals can cope with imposter syndrome. Lisa and Jon share their experiences of feeling like impostors despite their achievements and accolades.

·       Gender Pay Gap: Lisa reveals a personal experience with a gender pay gap, where she was offered a role with a lower salary than her male counterpart. The importance of addressing gender pay disparities in the cyber security industry is highlighted.

·       Toxic Workplace Culture: Lisa shares her experience working in a toxic workplace with bullying and how it led her to leave the organisation. The impact of toxic individuals on an organisation's culture and employee morale is discussed.

·       The Importance of Dealing with Toxicity: The conversation emphasises the significance of addressing toxic individuals within organisations to retain talented employees and maintain a healthy work environment.

·       Progress and Challenges: The discussion concludes by acknowledging the progress made in promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace while recognising the continued challenges and areas where improvements are needed.

About Our Host Jon And Guest Lisa​

Jon Wakefield, Consultant At Via Resource​

Jon joined Via Resource with a year of recruitment experience in the Cyber Security market, where he specialises in Security Engineering and DFIR.

Having placed candidates from Senior Manager Security Engineering to mid-level in highly regulated industries such as finance; Jon has built a comprehensive understanding of both candidate and client needs and addresses each role, and person, on an individual basis to find the perfect fit.

As an avid Star Wars fan, you will often see or hear Jon making connections and references to cyber security. Jon has ADHD and is an avid supporter of neurodivergent talent in the workplace.

Lisa Ventura MBE is an award-winning cyber security specialist, writer and keynote speaker. She is the Founder of Cyber Security Unity, a global community organisation that is dedicated to bringing individuals and companies together who actively work in cyber security to help combat the growing cyber threat. She is in high demand as a speaker and writer on various topics in cyber security including the cyber skills gap, career pathways into the industry, managing mental health and burnout, imposter syndrome, combatting bullying and abuse in the cyber security industry and the human factors/elements of cyber security. She is also a cyber security mindset and mental health coach and offers help and support to those affected by stress, burnout, bullying/abuse and mental health issues in cyber security and Infosec. In June 2023 she was awarded an MBE in King Charles III’s birthday honours list for services to cyber security and diversity and inclusion.

Jon Wakefield, Consultant at Via Resource and Leanne Maskell, ADHD Coach, Author, and Activist covers various aspects of ADHD, including understanding it, supporting individuals with ADHD, and harnessing the strengths of ADHD. They touch on the challenges faced by individuals with ADHD, particularly in corporate settings.

Overview

1. 1. Introduction: The conversation begins with one of the speakers expressing a desire to accidentally buy a year's supply of beer or whiskey, which leads to a discussion on ADHD and its relevance in the workplace.
   2. Three Key Points About ADHD in the Workplace: The conversation focuses on three main points related to ADHD in the corporate world. These points are:
      • Understanding ADHD: This involves explaining what ADHD is, addressing misconceptions, and discussing how it impacts executive functioning and work performance.
      • Supporting ADHD: This section covers strategies and policies for supporting neurodivergent individuals in the workplace, such as providing written instructions, coaching, and access to resources.
      • Harnessing ADHD: This part highlights the strengths and positive aspects of being neurodivergent and encourages embracing diversity in the workplace.
   3. Gender and ADHD: The speakers touch on the gender disparity in ADHD diagnoses, discussing how ADHD can manifest differently in men and women. They also mention the higher risk of suicide among individuals with ADHD.
   4. Dealing with Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD): The conversation delves into RSD, a concept related to intense emotional pain in response to real or perceived rejection. They discuss strategies to cope with RSD, including understanding the thought processes behind it and validating one's own experiences.
   5. Ideas and Innovation in the Workplace: The speakers discuss handling a situation where someone has innovative ideas but faces resistance or rejection in a corporate setting. The advice includes writing down ideas, presenting them thoughtfully, and considering implementing them independently, if possible.
   6. Personal Experiences and ADHD Coaching: The conversation also includes personal experiences of the speakers, the importance of coaching, and how coaching can help individuals with ADHD

About Our Host Jon And Guest Leanne​

Jon Wakefield, Consultant At Via Resource​

Jon joined Via Resource with a year of recruitment experience in the Cyber Security market, where he specialises in Security Engineering and DFIR.

Having placed candidates from Senior Manager Security Engineering to mid-level in highly regulated industries such as finance; Jon has built a comprehensive understanding of both candidate and client needs and addresses each role, and person, on an individual basis to find the perfect fit.

As an avid Star Wars fan, you will often see or hear Jon making connections and references to cyber security. Jon has ADHD and is an avid supporter of neurodivergent talent in the workplace.

Leanne Maskell, ADHD Coach, Author, And Activist​

Leanne Maskell is an ADHD Coach, Author, and Activist, having presented to the World Health Organization on improving global access to support for ADHD. Previously working in mental health and disability law, Leanne set up ADHD Works to empower as many people as possible to learn about how to make ADHD work for them through courses, talks, and coaching. After being diagnosed with ADHD aged 25, Leanne published 4 books, including her latest book 'ADHD Works at Work' & ‘ADHD: an A to Z’, as featured on Sky News.